Ian Baker-Finch
Name:
Ian Michael Baker-FinchCountry:
AustraliaBorn:
Oct 24, 1960 in Nambour, Queensland, Aus.Original/Home Club:
Beerwah GC, QueenslandOccupation:
Professional golfer; TV commentator; golf course designer.Turned Pro:
1979MAJORS (1): Open Championship (1991). Total professional wins (18), including Australasian Tour (11), Japan Tour (3), European Tour (2) and PGA Tour (2).
Baker-Finch's best known work includes, but is not limited to: Arabian Ranches, UAE (2001, with Nicklaus Design); Woodlands course, Bintan Lagoo, Indonesia (1997); Kennedy Bay, nr Perth, Aus (1998, with Michael Coate & Roger Mackay).
Baker-Finch began his professional career in style. In his first Australasian Tour event, the NZ Open, he recorded his first win. Regular wins on the Australasian Tour, with others in Europe, the US and Japan, culminated in his most memorable win at the 1991 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Rather than his Open Championship victory being a springboard to further success, Baker-Finch's game went into a steady and accelerating decline over the next five years. An excellent game on the practice ground just refused to transfer to the golf course when it was needed. 50 great drives on the range would be followed by a snap-hook on the first tee. After shooting a 92 in the first round of the 1997 Open at Royal Troon, Baker-Finch quit tournament golf.
In place of grinding it out in tournaments, Baker-Finch has become a highly respected television broadcaster in the United States. He has also turned his hand to golf course design (IBF Design).
Aus/NZ
Ford
Played as the Ford Australian PGA Ch'ship. Won by Ian Baker-Finch (Aus). [Concord GC, Sydney, Aus].
Majors
R&A
The Open Championship (120th) (July 18-21). Second-placed Mike Harwood (Aus) finished 2 shots behind first-time major championship winner Baker-Finch (Aus). [Royal Birkdale GC, Southport, Merseyside].
America
Southwestern Bell
Played as the Southwestern Bell Colonial (May 180-21). Second-placed David Edwards (USA) finished 4 shots behind first-time PGA Tour winner Baker-Finch (Aus). [Colonial CC, Ft Worth, TX].
Japan
Bridgestone
Played as the Bridgestone Aso Open (Japan Tr event). Second-placed Tadami Ueno (Jpn) finished 1 shot behind Baker-Finch (Aus). [Aso GC, Aso, Kumamoto].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the Australian Masters. Won by Ian Baker-Finch (Aus).
Europe
Scandinavian Enterprise
Played as the Scandinavian Enterprise Open (Aug 1-4). Second-placed Graham Marsh (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Baker-Finch (Aus), who recorded the first of his two European Tour wins. [Ullna GC, Åkersberga, nr Stockholm, Sweden].
Aus/NZ
x
Played as the New Zealand Open (Nov 24-27). Second-placed Stuart Reese (NZ) finished 3 shots behind 23-year-old Baker-Finch (Aus), who recorded his first win as a professional. [Royal Auckland & Grange GC, Papatoetoe, Auckland; at the time known as Auckland GC, Middlemore].
Tournaments:
PGA Championship: the first men’s major of the year will be contested at TPC Harding Park, without spectators being present (Aug 6-9).
European Senior (Staysure) Tour: the Europe-based over-50s tour for men has taken the reluctant step of cancelling the entire 2020 season, based on the additional coronavirus risk associated with the age demographic of the players.
Who's Who:
Miguel Ángel Jiménez: recorded his 707th European Tour start at the English Open in July, surpassing Sam Torrance’s record for the most appearances on the Tour.
Brooks Koepka: the former world No.1 defends his title at the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind in Memphis (July 30-Aug 2).
Traigh Golf Course (pronounced "try", and meaning "beach" in Gaelic): You'll find this nine-hole seaside gem on the scenic coast road (as opposed to the more inland and quicker A830) between Arisaig and Morar. Although not on the well-beaten path of Scotland's "trophy" courses, if you are passing through this area, it's a must play.
Read More...
Cullen Links Golf Club: "immensely scenic", "quirky as golf can get", "short!", "hugely enjoyable" ... Cullen Links attracts as wide a variety of comments as it lays down golfing challenges. Shoehorned into this 4,600 yard treasure trove are ten par-3s, seven par-4s and a good-length par-5. Here you'll find all the seaside scenery a golfer could ask for, and a lot more besides. Read More...
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